Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneJulian Wright has had a difficult time earning significant minutes this year.

Let's be frank: Julian Wright is an amazing talent. His athleticism is on display with every high-flying dunk and diving steal he delivers as a pro, and it was certainly significant enough for the Hornets to draft him in the first round last year.

The problem with Wright's game this year does not appear to be a physical one, however.

Instead, the second-year New Orleans Hornets forward is reportedly struggling with the mental side of the game, and unfortunately for Hornets fans everywhere, that does not appear to be a battle he will win anytime soon.

"When you run the same play for two years, and you are still not understanding where you are supposed to be, that tells me you are not getting it," Scott said. "His reaction is slow when we're swinging the ball, and he's still not where he is supposed to be. I have to holler a couple of times for him to get there."

Scott went on to explain that Wright's struggle to learn the offense is the thing holding him back and that moreover he expects Wright, a hard worker, to eventually break through and hopefully make the kind of impact most fans envisioned for him after seeing his notable impact on games late last year.

And at the end of the day, that isn't particularly troubling. Players have been slow to grasp things before (particularly in Scott's precise schemes), and there's certainly no shame in Wright joining the long list of players who have had bumpy entries into the NBA. It could even be seen as a positive, as rampant speculation amongst fans had wondered about injury concerns, lack of effort, and the like. None of that is the case. Wright is just in the proverbial dog house for not executing.

What actually IS troubling is Wright's reaction to his current situation.

"He (Scott) said I was making the same mistakes as last year," Wright said. "As a professional and all the things I've done this offseason, I refuse to believe that."

Granted, all quotes can be taken out of context, and Wright may be as likely to take ownership over his current plight as anyone, but his words tell a different story. They say he doesn't understand why he's at where's at, and more troubling, that he will not acknowledge the weaknesses in his game that brought him there.

Wright is just the sort of player the Hornets need right now. They've managed to right their ship somewhat over the last two weeks (currently 16-7 and in first place in the Southwest Division), but they still have the same weakness they always did -- they're too reliant on jump shooters hitting their shots.

Wright is one of the few players on the team who can create his own shot (and do so well). Chris Paul is of course in his own league in that regard, and Antonio Daniels has shown a willingness to drive the lane, but Wright's length, ball-handling and explosiveness make him a matchup nightmare for just about anyone in the league, and a play-making presence at the small forward spot is something the Hornets have truly lacked so far this year.

Byron Scott is no dummy. I'm sure he can see what we can. Wright's exceptional talent can help this team ... and even assuming Scott decides that it can't, Wright will be sent to another team. So don't expect Wright to be sitting on the inactive list come May, whether he's on the Hornets or not.

But if Wright doesn't begin to grasp the offense (and more importantly, understand that he has plenty of improving to do), we won't be seeing him anytime soon.